Clasp for bracelets



Sept. 4, 1923,

K. L. TOELCKE ET AL CLASP FOR BRACELETS Filed Jan. 11. 1923 ATTORNE Y8 Patented 4 1923.

err sire fr rte KARL L. ToELc 'E, 'AATE MIKKOLA, Alina nnonsnnrrna-or CHICAGO, rraz'nvors.

CLASP FOR BRACELETS Original application filed October 9,1922, ser al No. 593,455. Divided. and this application filed J mm To all whom/it may concern:

1 Be it known that we, KARL L. TOELOKE,

rmrn MIKKO A, and LEON SHArmo, all citi .zens of-Ithe United States, and residents of Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois. have invented anew and useful Improvement 111 Clasps for Bracelets, of which the following 1s a full, clear, and -exact description.

.Our invention relates to improvements 1n clasps for bracelets, and it consists in the combinations, fcjonstrufctions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of our invention is to provide a clasp for a bracelet or the like that securely locks the free ends of the bracelet against unintentional separation from one another.

A further object of our invention is to provide a device of the character described that is constructed in such a manner as to resemble the ordinary bracelet link, and therefore not contrasted against the general design and appearance of the bracelet.

A further object of our invention is to provide a novel means for releasing the lock, which means is not likely to become accidentally actuated. i

A further object of our invention is to provide a device of the character described that is extremely durable, and which is thoroughly practical commercially.

Other objects and advantages will appear inthe following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this ap plication, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of our invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the mecha nism illustrated in Figure 1 slightly on larged, and

Figure 3 is a view, partly in section, along the line of Figure 2.

In carrying out our invention, we make use of a bracelet constructed of a plurality of links 1 which are provided with a certain ornamental design constructed at 3 on the up per face 2 thereof. In the case shown in Figure 1, the ornamentation 3 consists in a setting for a jewel. The links 1 are connected to one another in any well known manner, but we choose to make use of the novel connecting means disclosed in our co-pending application for patent on bracelet, Serial No.

two of theadjacent links 1.

7 upper surfacethereof.

11, 1923. Serial ,No. 12,1 3;

593,455, our present application being .-a division of the said co-pending application.

Our novel locking means is constructed of a casing a liaving the general appearance of V This casing 4 is provided with apair of ornamentations 3 the links. The casinge' is provided on :its

interior with a. pivotally' mounted -latch for setting jewels orthe like, precisely as in" member 5 (see Figures 2 and 3).. 'This" latch member or lever is constantly pressed =downwardly -by, m eans of a compression 6 held against lateral movement by a 7 spring 7 pin 7 inserted in the top wall 8 ofth'e casing 1. The outer end 9 of the latch lever 5 falls short of the adjacent end wall 10 of the casing. t g V plate 11'is secured to the bottom of the I casing 4, thereby closing all but the forward end 12 of the casing. A clasp member 13 is secured to the opposite end of the bracelet and has substantially thesame outward appearance'as the links 1 (see Figure 1). The clasp member 13, however, is provided with an outwarly extending tongue14, which tongue is formed with a latch tooth 15 adjacent its outer end on the This tongue 14 is so constructed that when p it is inserted through the open end 12 of the casing 4, it will 'engagewith the spring" pressed lateh lever Sand be held from withdrawal from the casing until the lever 5 is moved against action of the spring 7 The means for moving the latch lever 5 out of'engagement 'with the tongue 14 is clearly shown in Figure 3 and consists in a diminutive bell crank 16 pivotally'mounted at 17 to a side wall of the casing 4. The bell crank 16 is provided with a finger grip 18 and a work engaging portion 19. The portion 19is inclined and is normally in contact with aninclined portion 20 provided in the side wall of the latch lever 5.

It will be evident therefore that when the bell crank 16 is moved to the position shown.

in dottedlines that the latch lever 5 will be elevated and thereby moved out of engagement with the tongue 14 so that the tongue may be removed and the'clasp opened to wearer. v t From the foregoing descrlption of the various parts of the '1 device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. The operation of our improved clasp is extremely simple. To engage the two locking members, it is merely necessary to project the tongue 14 through the open end '12 of the casing 10 and press thesernembers toward one another. As shown in Figure 2, the tongue 14 will engage with the spring pressed lever 5 in such a manner as to prevent the unintentional withdrawal of the tongue 14.

In order to release the tongue 1 L from engagement with the latch leverv 5, it is necesing having substantially the same configuralever disposed within said casing, a bell crank secured to said casing and having engageinent with said latch lever, whereby said latch lever may be actuated at will, a second latch member arranged to be secured to the opposite free end of said bracelet, saidsec- 0nd named clasp member being provided with a tongue having a latch tooth at the outer end-thereof andadapted to enter said casing through the open end thereof and to engage with said latch lever, whereby 'said clasp membersmay be secure from unintentlonal separation.

, AATE nmo LA, LEON, srramno.

KARL n ronLcKEa 

